Graphic DVD campaign aims to reduce under-age drinking

A new campaign to discourage under-age drinking and those buying it for young people has been launched in Franklin.

Franklin’s off-licence liquor outlets are participating in the Think – Drink campaign, which aims to reduce the supply of alcohol to young people, reduce youth drink driving and alcohol related crashes and raise peer and parental awareness of the consequences of combining alcohol and young people.

The Think-Drink campaign includes three short videos that show separate scenarios all with dire consequences including hospitalisation, violence and death. The DVDs are played in the liquor outlets near the counters, where shoppers are considering their purchases.

Franklin District Council GM Environmental Services James Jefferson says the timing of this campaign couldn’t be better, given the recent failure of a Franklin off-licence in an operation targeting the sale of alcohol to minors.

“This is a very timely campaign - there is simply too much complacency regarding alcohol and minors in Franklin. The Think-Drink campaign graphically shows the consequences of mixing alcohol and young people, using the catchphrase ‘buying alcohol for young people doesn’t buy them a good time’, and featuring an image of the grim reaper ‘recruiting now’.”

“The campaign aims to make the public reconsider their decision to supply alcohol to minors and think through the consequences of mixing alcohol and young people.”

Counties Manukau Police District research shows that over half of all New Zealand Youth (12 - 17 years) have consumed alcohol with 21% being further classified as ‘binge’ drinkers. 91% of those young people classified as ‘binge’ drinkers have reported suffering from some form of alcohol related harm in the form of violence, drink driving as well as embarrassment, humiliation and regret.

Think – Drink is a joint campaign by Franklin District Council, Manukau and Papakura City Council’s, Police, the Alcohol Advisory Council and ACC.